Design director – mexico city design office.
position summary
the design director oversees the entire mexico city design office, leading a high-performing team responsible for licensed sports product execution across multiple leagues and 150+ team identities. This role focuses on strategic leadership, organizational oversight, and design operations at scale, ensuring the team delivers accurate, compliant, and high-quality design assets that meet business, licensing, and brand requirements. The design director partners with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to shape design strategy, optimize processes, and drive the long-term growth of the design function.
key responsibilities
strategic leadership & oversight
* provide overall leadership for the mexico city design office, setting vision, priorities, and standards for the design team.
* partner with executive leadership to align design strategy with broader company objectives, licensing requirements, and business growth plans.
* oversee multiple design managers and senior designers, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and project ownership across the team.
* represent the mexico city design organization in senior leadership discussions, providing updates on progress, challenges, and resource needs.
organizational development
* build and scale a high-volume design team capable of executing licensed sports product rollouts across all major leagues.
* define talent development strategies, including recruiting, training, succession planning, and mentorship for managers, seniors, and emerging designers.
* foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture that balances creativity with operational excellence.
* conduct annual and mid-year performance reviews, ensuring structured, constructive, and transparent evaluation of all team members
* establish feedback loops between mexico city and new york offices, creating consistent channels for input, recognition, and improvement.
process & plm optimization
* serve as the executive sponsor of plm system adoption, driving continuous improvement in workflows, approvals, and data integrity.
* partner with design managers to enforce process consistency, ensuring scalable and efficient workflows across multiple capsules and deadlines.
* evaluate and implement tools, platforms, and systems that improve design efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
* champion a culture of operational discipline, reducing errors, minimizing rework, and increasing speed-to-market.
compliance & quality assurance
* oversee compliance across all leagues and licensors, ensuring every product meets strict licensing and brand standards.
* partner with senior stakeholders and licensing representatives to address escalations and resolve high-level approval challenges.
* implement checkpoints and governance structures to maintain quality, accuracy, and compliance across all design outputs.
cross-functional & global collaboration
* act as the primary liaison between the mexico city design organization and cross-functional teams in new york and other offices.
* partner with product development, licensing, merchandising, and production to align priorities and ensure seamless execution.
* contribute to long-term business planning, assortment strategies, and market expansion initiatives by providing design insights and operational perspectives.
* serve as a global thought leader, influencing best practices across multiple offices and business units.
team leadership & people management
* serve as a trusted leader and resource for the mexico city team, with the ability to troubleshoot personal and interpersonal issues that may impact performance.
* champion a culture of feedback, ensuring managers and senior designers are equipped to give and receive constructive input regularly.
* demonstrate both data-driven decision-making (left brain) and empathetic, creative problem-solving (right brain) to support team growth and well-being.
qualifications
* bachelor's degree in product design, fashion design, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
* 12+ years of design experience in apparel, accessories, or consumer products, with at least 8+ years in a leadership role overseeing more than 20 employees.
* proven track record of managing large-scale licensed product rollouts across multiple categories or leagues.
* strong expertise in plm systems, design operations, and approval workflows.
* demonstrated ability to lead and inspire diverse design teams across multiple levels and geographies.
* exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence executive decision-making.
* skilled in conflict resolution, employee coaching, and supporting both professional and personal growth within teams.
* exceptional english speaking and writing required.
* advanced level of illustrator knowledge is required.